Have your road trip organization tips ready? These five tips will help you get organized for your road trip and stay organized throughout the trip. Download the free road trip organization checklist at the end of this post!
Every summer we take a road trip to visit family. As we have grown to a family of five, we have had to figure out the best ways to travel without loosing our sanity. Through that, I have learned there are a few tips that will help your car not become a place of chaos as you travel.
6 Road Trip Organization Tips
Clean out the car before you pack it.
I know, you are going to have to clean the car again after the road trip. However, trust me, this will help you get organized! When you start with a clean car you have a clean slate, but when you start with a messy car, you start by adding to the mess.
Stock up on paper towels, wipes, and a first aid kit.
One way I focus on road trip organization is to stock up on necessary supplies. Have a roll of paper towels, a pack of wipes, and a simple first aid kit in your car. These are great to have on hand for messy hands, and the little incidents that sometimes happen when you have kids in the car for a while.
Keep trash bags on hand.
For a long time we would take our annual road trip and always comment on how much trash accumulated in the car. Finally, we decided enough was enough and put a little trash bag in the car. I usually bring old grocery bags and keep a few extra on hand. Whenever you get to your destination, empty the trash and start fresh for the return trip.
Have a little bag or bin for each child to hold their road trip toys in.
We are big fans of having little toys in the car for the road trip, but we are not a fan of toys all over the car. Give each child a bag or a small bin to bring on the road trip. This will hold their special toys, books, etc that they want to bring. You can also store some fun road trip games in the bins. Download your free road trip scavenger hunt!
Bring snacks in bags or containers.
Sometimes we will bring a bunch of snacks in separate bags. Other times, I pack three small containers to pour the snacks in for the kids during the road trip. The point is to give the snack in some type of container/bag to help contain the mess.
Encourage family help.
If you are the only one who is committed to keeping the car organized during the road trip, it is going to be a big battle. Instead, encourage your family to help. Make a game out of it, cheer each other on, and have fun!
Since I know how helpful a good checklist can be, I have put together a free printable road trip organization checklist. Download your road trip organization checklist.
The next time you head out for a road trip with your family, remember these tips! What would you add to the list?
If you want more road trip tips, check out these tips plus a free road trip printable game!
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Clear the Clutter Challenge
I have been joining my friend Jaclyn in hosting this challenge. We are currently working on making some fun changes to the challenge! We will be sharing the changes soon, so make sure you are part of the Facebook group!
If you’re not already a part of our Facebook group please click here to join! We share tips for organizing, behind the scenes, and it’s a place to ask questions and join in on a community!
Join the Facebook group to share with us your space or use the hashtag #cleartheclutterchallenge and tag us on Instagram!
Starting with a clean car is such a great tip – something a lot of us wouldn’t think about. It’s also a nice subtle incentive to keep the car clean!
Yes, it really is! I know whenever our car is messy it is so easy to just add to the mess.
I love that printable bingo! It is a great idea with a clipboard and then the kids can use the clipboard for other activities on the road!